"Previous plans should be scrapped," spoke one amongst many making the otherwise wide planning room appear congested.

"There is no need to completely scrap them, rather they can be used as a base to create an even more robust one while keeping in consideration the change," another one spoke in reply.

"Will Vissble even come out seeing such an obvious plan?" Someone asked a rather important question.

"When had we decided to keep it a secret? I won't be satisfied until that menace feels as hopeless, as insignificant, as lowly as I had felt back then because if not that, then for what have we been working our asses off for such a long time?" An anger-filled reply quickly followed. It was not a normal kind of anger, the kind that made a person lose control. All that had remained after such a long time, after being thoroughly tested and stained, was an anger that only motivated them indefinitely, perfectly in control. It allowed them to follow the only thing they looked forward to, the desire to do to the perpetrators what had been done to them. That was the single thing they had left within them, neither snuffed out by time nor by the inhuman journey they had been through.

The discussion kept on going. The holograms constantly changed, both facilitating the discussions by bringing up all the data that could help with the topic at hand and recording all the topics and discussions that occurred for future use. After this operation was completed, another group would start reviewing everything, pointing out things that could be improved, things that had to be avoided, and anything that could improve their future performance.

All of those present had once been normal but the events they had been through had morphed them into abnormal beings with a singular focus to achieve their revenge. It did not matter to them what had to be done to achieve that, good or bad.

Previous plans were deconstructed, acting as fertilizers for the newer and improved ones.

A mission that had been handed out in a dark jest had suddenly created for them many more opportunities, though they had not given thought to them before and they had never even considered it becoming a possibility. Being able to enter the settlement without any notice was in and of itself a massive achievement. Moving to the upper layers without notice was impossible and not because they were unprepared even after dozens upon dozens of cycles. It was not the case. It was just impossible. Just as it was impossible, unthinkable to decipher the Grand Formation, just as it was impossible to enter the Central Towers, just like that it was impossible to move up the lifts and remain hidden.

With fervent passion, each and every one of those present remade and once again tore each iteration of plans, tearing it into shreds upon noticing any weakness. Weakness could not be left behind. It was unacceptable.

“They will likely start tightening the security at the entrance gate and the Teleportation Station, and then start checking the history to check when Vissbl’s son was brought in. We should use that. Play out an act of smuggling him out once again, that would force him to act. He will have to come down that way.” One put forth an opinion.

“Before that we should stir up other families, that will reduce the level of power that they will be able to access. In the chaos we can get rid of Vissble and the rest should follow without much problem.”

“My lord, how much time until the Representative of this place returns?” Harlev asked, his voice dispersing all other conversations. He mentally moved the holograms aside, looking at Revensol.

“Not much time. I will also remind you all once again; that our future cooperation with Knrama hinges on the fact that we give him results that satisfy him. Meaning we will have to reduce the damage to those uninvolved.” As he said that, he stared at a few who flinched, quickly breaking the eye contact.

“I have heard you all and this is how we will do it. If you have any objection you may point it out at the end,” after saying that, Revensol started describing the plan that had formed in his head hearing the discussion that had been taking place while making it even better using all the data that had been gathered during all this time.

As the discussion came to a close, he asked once again, “Any objections?”

No one spoke.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“I will take it as no objections. Arv, you will be responsible for handling the sleeper agents. The tensions should have already risen up there so capture the most opportune time and make sure there is chaos up there,” Revensol ordered the second in command of Harlev.

“As ordered.”

As Inero-ie had completed the mission not long ago, not even a full day had passed but the tensions that had risen. The effects of that tension were for the time being contained in the top Layer but if they delayed even a little bit, it could span across the whole settlement. And that could not be allowed to happen.

Now that the plan had been finalized, the people quickly left the room, each returning to perform their part, all in hopes of eating that dish that had long frozen.

***

Through the forest draped in darkness, two people walked without any fear of the pitch-black darkness and the inky shadows that stretched and mixed into the darkness. The dim light, dim to the degree that even one's fingers were difficult to see, sprinkled down through the canopy of the forest.

The Solar Crystal hanging up in the sky was so dark that it almost mixed into the darkness and was as difficult to perceive as it was to see their own hands. Still, there was no fear in the two, as though they had done this countless times before, they knew where to step aside from an obstacle, where to get down, where to jump. It was all memorized.

While effortlessly traversing through the forest, both continued talking and in the silence that was ever present, their occasional laughs were carried far and wide by the wind. Eventually, they left the pitch-black darkness, or rather, the darkness was pushed back when they arrived at a pathway lit up on both sides by crystals. The man and the woman, continued on the path, eventually arriving at a massive castle.

They had entered the castle parameters for quite some time but the intruder alarms had still not triggered, implying they both belonged to the family that owned this castle.

The castle door automatically opened, and as they entered, a person who was walking by stopped and smiled at them, asking, “Did anything interesting happen?”

“What can even happen? We were just talking about things,” the man replied, the smile still hanging on his face.

“We were talking about the days when we had just met. Never had I thought I would end up marrying him,” the smile was also plastered on the woman’s face as those memories were still swimming inside her mind.

“Who could have? I certainly did not think a lowly man like me would end up marrying a princess,” with an exaggerated pose and an over-the-top voice, the man said making the other two laugh.

“You jest. If you, the most likely candidate for becoming our family's next Seeker, is lowly then who can have high status? Whether it be your dedication or the research you produce, few can match them.” the person smiled.

“It’s good that I caught him them,” the woman said while the smile on her face became even brighter.

The couple then went their way, eventually entering their lab. They had their rest and now it was time to get back to work. As they were working, suddenly the man felt dizzy, almost falling to the ground by was caught by his wife who carried him to a chair, checking but unable to find any problem with him. Seeing her acting so worried, the man just laughed and said, “No need to worry, I am perfectly–” While saying that the man tried to get up but failed, making his wife even more worried.

“How about we stop for today,” her voice was filled with worry as she asked. This should not even be possible. Both of them were just a step away from performing their first Shedding so seeing him suddenly being unable to even lift himself up alarmed her.

“Maybe it is due to working non-stop until now, but it's not like we can delay. I want to review the whole thing at least twice before submitting the papers but that will only be possible if we keep on working as we have been.” The man said.

“Do you really have to put in this much effort?” She knew even before she asked why he was doing it. The only reason her family was so satisfied with them was the research they handed in, that was the only thing that had made their union even possible. And even though the person they had met before was smiling like many others, there were many who just hid their real thoughts behind smiles.

Without waiting for his reply, she said,” I will go bring some medicine."

"Okay," he said while smiling, eyes following her as she left the laboratory.

Once his wife was gone, the man's aura underwent a drastic change making him a completely different person. Just now, the memories that had been sealed deeply within his mind were once again reintegrated into his mind.

All this time he had made sure to integrate with the nobles to the best of his ability, to gain their trust, to gain their confidence, to get into their good graces. Despite his best efforts though, he had only partially succeeded.

'No matter, this will be enough.'

As he was processing all the memories in his mind, the door slid open and a woman entered the laboratory. Instinctively, his eyes softened.